Portable baseball, softball scoreboard



July 4, 1950 L. L. BRAY 2,513,623

PORTABLE BASEBALL, SOFTBALL SCOREBOARD Filed Dec. 17, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 O; I 58 z 1 67 STRIKE H E o @CQ) (9Q) :0

25 59 2 g jg' INVENTOR. 2% Ad wrenae A.E7-

Patented July 9 I a I j PORTABLE BASEBALL, SOFTBALL SCOREBOARD Lawrence L. Bray, Sheboygan, Wis., assignor to Sporco, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application December 17, 1947, Serial No. 792,158

This invention relates to a, portable scoreboard that may be used to indicate the score .in games of sport such as soft-ball, baseball, regular baseball or games of similar character.

. Anobject of the invention is to provide a scoreboard that is of a size to be plainly visible from the entire ball playing field.

1 ,Another object of the invention is to provide a compact scoreboard that is self-contained,

that is, it carries its own source of illumination bination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

' Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a rear view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear view of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an end view of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical, sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an elevational view in folded position;

Figure 7 is a rear view of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an end view of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the panel and lights mounted thereon;

Figure 10 is an elevational view of one of the score indicating means and.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit of the device.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral is used to generally designate the scoreboard embodying the invention.

The scoreboard 20 comprises a base 2| to which is fixed the axle supports 22 for the axles 23, on which are mounted in the conventional manher, the ground engaging wheels 24. A tow bar or handle 25 connected to the front support 22 permits the scoreboard to be towed from location to location.

Along the front longitudinal edge of the base 2| is fixed the vertically disposed lower panel of the device 26, and hinged to the upper longitudinal edge of the panel 26, by hinges 21, is the upper vertical disposed panel 28.

Hinged to each vertical edge of the panel 28 by hinges 29 are the wing panels 30 and 3| respectively. Triangular brace panels 32 are fixed to the ends of the base, and the ends of the panel 26 to retain the panel 26 in fixed vertical relation to the base 2|.

To retain the panel 28 in its vertical position, bars 33 removably seated in sockets 33' in the base 2| are used. The bars have hooked ends 34 thatengage in the screw 35 fixed in the upper longitudinal edge of the panel 28. The panels 3| and 30 and each brace panel 32 is provided withapertured brackets 36 to receive the bent ends of the brace bars 31, whereby the wing panels are retained in the same vertical plane with the panel 28.

The wing panel 30 and a portion of the panel 28 support removable panels 38, which indicate the names of the teams participating in the game. The remainder of the panel 28 and wing panel 3| are divided into box-like spaces 39 which are provided with openings 40 to receive bolts 4|, whereby the score plates 42 may be supported in each box. Above the box, the panels 28 and 3| are provided with means for indicating the'nu-mber of each box, as shown at 43. Secured to the rear of the panel 2|, is the panel or plate 44, carrying the bulb socket 45 for the Ibulbs 46. The turned flanged ends 41 of the panel 44 contact the rear of the panel 2|, to receive the portion 48, whereby the panel 44 is removably secured to the panel 2|. Openings 50 are provided in the panel 2| to permit the bulbs to be visible through the panel.

Leaves 5| are hinged to the face of the panel 26 by hinges 52, and when the leaves are in vertical position, they close the openings 50. When the leaves are retained in horizontal relation to the panel 2| by brace bars 53, the bulbs will be visible through the openings 5|]. One set of bulbs is used for ballsanother set for strikes; a set for out and one each for hits and errors, as can be seen from the drawings. The bulbs used are also of different colors to distinguish one from each other. For example, amber lights for balls, blue lights for strikes, red lights for outs, an amber light for hit and a red light for error.

In Figure 11, there is shown the diagrammatic view of the circuit for the lights including the storage battery 54 which is fixed on the base 2|. The main current lines 55 and 56 are connected in parallel to the sockets 45 for the bulbs 46, and a switch 51 is interpolated in the wires for the sockets to control each individual bulb.

The switches 51 are fixed to a switchboard 58 fixed to one of the panels 32, so that each bulb can be individually controlled by the switch board 58.

In use, the opposite panels 38 are mounted in place as shown in Figure 1. The switches 51 are open unless it is desired to close the switch to in-; dicate a ball, strike, out, hit or error. The score plates 42 are hung in place by means of the-bolts 4 I, according to the runs scored.

To move or store the scoreboard, the leaves 5.! are lowered to protect the-bulbs. score plates 42 are removed and placed on the base 4|. The bars 3'! are removed, permitting the panels 30 and 3| to be swung into contact with the panels 28.

The bars 33 are removed from the sockets 33',

their hookedends are removedv from the screw eyes..35.and the panel 28 is swung downward as shown in Figure 8.

Hasps 59 fixed to the rear longitudinal edge of the base 2| .are then swung upwardly to reu 'ceive the screw eyes 35, and a pin 60 or a lock (not shown) is used to retain the panel in closed position. The panel 28 then with the panels 32 forms a box-like structure which protects the wiring storage battery and wiring from damage orpilferage.

There has thus been provided a scoreboard thatis portable, compact and will readily accomplish the purpose for which it is designed.

It is believed that from the foregoing description, the combination anduse of the scoreboard *will be apparent to those skilled in'the art; and it is to be'understood that changes in the minor -details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to, provided they fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

' Having thus described the invention, what is "claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

Panels-sand aboye said front wall when the scoreboard is in use,"m,ean's, for supporting. said extensions in laterally extended position when the scoreboard is :gin use, and score indicating means cooperable with said plate and said extensions to present a scoreto view in conjunction with said illuminatingmeans when said plate is swung upwardly, said score indicating means being confinable within said structure when said plate is used as a closure.

2. A portable scoreboard comprising a transportablebox' like structure having a rigid front wall,an upwardly swingable plate forming a closure for said structure when not in use, a lateral extension toldable inwardly against .said;.plate,

illuminating meansvisible throughsaid front wall .for indicating variable conditions of vplay,.a current source for. said illuminating means housed within said structure, controlling means for said illuminating means, means for supporting said plate in approximately upright position above said front wall when thescoreboardisin use, means for supporting said extensionin laterally 'extended position when the scoreboardisinuse,

and score-indicating means 'cooperable withsaid plate and said'extension to present a score to view in conjunction with said illuminating means when said plate is swung upwardly, said score indicating means being 'confinable within said structur when said plate is used as a closure.

LAWRENCE =L. BRAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record .in the file of this'patent:

UNITED strains PATENTS 

